Meet Shardae Pressley of Cool Saved Chicks in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shardae Pressley.

Shardae, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
For as long as I can remember I loved music. When I was a kid, my dad bought me a huge boom box that was grey with enormous black speakers on the side. I would blast the radio and record music on cassette tapes. It was around that time that I decided I wanted to work in radio. Fast forward almost 13 years and I was the host of a show called “Pillow Talk” on a student-run radio station at Temple University, my alma mater.

While still in college, I began contracting for Radio One Inc and went on to work there full time in the Marketing department after graduation. I continued on in my passion of being an on-air as a co-host of a local weekend show called “Keeping Up with the Jones'” I spent my early twenties traveling the country with Hip Hop and RnB Stars activating events, concerts, and tours. I was mentored by some of the best in the business and felt truly blessed to sit at the table among so many people who became life long mentors to me…but it felt like something was missing.

The feeling culminated at the beginning of 2014. I sat with myself and realized that although I was raised in the church, I had strayed extremely far from my relationship with God. In an effort to rebuild that relationship, I felt led to start a bible study call…I called it the “Cool Saved Chicks” bible study call and hosted it every Tuesday. The call began with a circle of women who were on-air personalities, record label execs, and media industry professionals. We gathered once a week empowering one another and solidifying the belief that we could do what we loved and still love/promote God.

That call snowballed into a life-changing journey. It became a ministry platform and moved from just over the phone to events like “Saved and Social,” “Closed Door Conversations,” and monthly community service initiatives. It opened doors for me to talk to women about taking their relationship with God into whatever room they are placed in. That call, which still happens every Tuesday, connected women from all walks of life and encouraged them that we are never on this journey alone.

I now reside in the Atlanta area and while I still work in media, I also actively create experiences for women to experience God in their daily lives. I am now the author of The P.L.U.G. (Purposeful Living Unto God) a 60 Day Devotional and continuing work with Cool Saved Chicks daily.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. Major struggles along the way include constantly questioning if I’m the person who should be waving the “Christian” flag. I struggled with wondering whether I was qualified enough or if I checked all the boxes of what someone teaching about God should look like.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Cool Saved Chicks – what should we know?
Cool Saved Chicks is ministry platform that provides a space for women to live, grow and serve together. We specialize in monthly events and gatherings and we are known for our weekly bible study. I am most proud of all the women who joined the platform confused or seeking to know God who came to know and understand his plans for their life.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Understanding that it is not about me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.coolsavedchicks.com
• Email: info@shardaepressley.com
• Instagram: @coolsavedchicks
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/coolsavedchicks

Image Credit:
Vicentae Driver, Bryan Luckey

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